Financial Overview

Investments

At Valley of the Sun United Way, we believe that the true measure of a community is its ability and willingness to care for its most vulnerable members. Despite continued economic challenges in 2009, more than 100,000 donors throughout Maricopa County raised tens of millions of dollars to support individuals and families in need.

VSUW develops and invests in programs that address short-term community needs while working toward long-term community solutions to address the most pressing human care issues facing Maricopa County.

To achieve greater community impact, we focus our efforts in three key areas including: Ensuring Children and Youth Succeed; Increasing Financial Stability of Individuals and Families and Ending Hunger and Homelessness. 

In addition, VSUW investments support Healthy Community programs that ensure our community and neighborhoods remain vibrant and healthy.

VSUW Overhead Costs

Valley of the Sun United Way incurs costs for fundraising, marketing and common business operations such as accounting, human resources and overall organizational management. As careful stewards of our donors’ contributions, Valley of the Sun United Way operates with the utmost efficiency and effectiveness.  Twelve percent is spent on administrative cost and 88% is invested in local programs and initiatives that help struggling individuals, families and children throughout the Valley.

Compared to the average 18%* administrative costs reported by nonprofits, Valley of the Sun United Way is one of the most efficient nonprofits in the country.

*2003 McKinsey & Company Study as reported by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Accountability

Local human care programs that receive United Way funding go through rigorous volunteer review.  Each program is carefully reviewed and evaluated by trained and knowledgeable community volunteers. Volunteers carefully monitor community needs, meet with local health and human service agencies and review each agency’s program funding request. This ensures your investment is going toward human care programs that are proven to obtain results and improve lives.

Valley of the Sun United Way prides itself on being a trustworthy and accountable organization.  A volunteer committee of financial experts from the community meets year-round, monitoring the organization’s financial position.  Collectively, we maintain high standards of operation and are reviewed each year by an independent auditor, who verifies that our financial statements fairly present the financial position of Valley of the Sun United Way.

In addition to posting our Form 990 on our Web site for public review, Valley of the Sun United Way is an active member of the Better Business Bureau and a past recipient of its Ethics Award, which recognizes businesses for maintaining high ethical standards and accountability in their business practices.